Optimization of media content using generated intermediate media content

Abstract

An automatic graphics delivery system that operates in parallel with an existing Web site infrastructure is provided. The system streamlines the post-production process by automating the production of media through content generation procedures controlled by proprietary tags placed by an author within URLs embedded within Web documents.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method in a host computer for developing transformation processing operations to optimize media content playback to a plurality of playback devices connected with the host computer in a network, the method comprising:
 receiving a first request from a first playback device for media content; 
 wherein the first request contains information, the information indicating a first original media content, first content generation operations, and first transformation operations; 
 determining whether a previously-generated first intermediate media content is available for reuse, the previously-generated first intermediate media content having been created using the first original media content and the first set of content generation operations; and 
 responsive to determining that a previously-generated first intermediate media content is available, creating a first optimized media content for the first playback device by performing the first set of transformation operations on the previously-generated first intermediate media content; and 
 responsive to determining that a previously-generated first intermediate media content is not available, creating a first optimized media content for the first playback device by creating a first intermediate content using the first original media content and the first set of content generation operations, and performing the first set of transformation operations on the first intermediate media content; and 
 sending the first optimized media content to the first playback device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request from a second playback device for media content;
 wherein the second request contains information, the information indicating a second original media content, second set of content generation operations, and second set of transformation operations; 
 wherein the second request is received substantially concurrently with receiving the first request; 
 wherein the first original media content and the second original media content are the same media content; 
 determining whether a second intermediate media content is available having been previously created using the second original media content and the second set of content generation operations; and 
 responsive to determining that the second intermediate media content is available, creating a second optimized media content for the first playback device by performing the second set of transformation operations on the second intermediate media content; and 
 responsive to determining that the second intermediate media content is not available, creating a second optimized media content for the first playback device by creating the second intermediate content using the second original media content and the second set of content generation operations, and performing the second set of transformation operations on the second intermediate media content; and 
 sending the second optimized media content to the second playback device. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first set of content generation operations and the second set of content generation operations are the same, and the first set of transformation operations and the second set of transformation operations are different. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first set of content generation operations and the second set of content generation operations are different, and the first set of transformation operations and the second set of transformation operations are different. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether a previously-generated first optimized media content is available for reuse, wherein the previously-generated first optimized media content was created using the first original media content, the first content generation operations, and the first transformation operations; 
 responsive to determining that the previously-generated first optimized media content is available, sending the previously-generated first optimized media content to the first playback device. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the host computer has sufficient processing resources to create the first optimized media content for the first playback device; 
 responsive to determining that the host computer does not have sufficient processing resources to create the first optimized media content, determining an alternate first set of content generation operations or an alternate first set of transformation operations; 
 creating an alternate first optimized media content using the alternate first set of content generation operations or the alternate first set of transformation operations. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first optimized media content is at a first level of quality and the alternate first optimized media content is at a second level of quality, wherein the first level of quality is higher than the second level of quality;
 wherein a level of quality of a media content is measured based on a compression format, a bit rate, and an image resolution of a media content sent to a playback device. 
 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions, the instructions which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform:
 receiving a first request from a first playback device for media content; 
 
       wherein the first request contains information, the information indicating a first original media content, first content generation operations, and first transformation operations;
 determining whether a previously-generated first intermediate media content is available for reuse, the previously-generated first intermediate media content having been created using the first original media content and the first set of content generation operations; and 
 responsive to determining that a previously-generated first intermediate media content is available, creating a first optimized media content for the first playback device by performing the first set of transformation operations on the previously-generated first intermediate media content; and 
 responsive to determining that a previously-generated first intermediate media content is not available, creating a first optimized media content for the first playback device by creating a first intermediate content using the first original media content and the first set of content generation operations, and performing the first set of transformation operations on the first intermediate media content; and 
 
       sending the first optimized media content to the first playback device. 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a second request from a second playback device for media content; 
 wherein the second request contains information, the information indicating a second original media content, second set of content generation operations, and second set of transformation operations; 
 wherein the second request is received substantially concurrently with receiving the first request; 
 wherein the first original media content and the second original media content are the same media content; 
 determining whether a second intermediate media content is available having been previously created using the second original media content and the second set of content generation operations; and 
 responsive to determining that the second intermediate media content is available, creating a second optimized media content for the first playback device by performing the second set of transformation operations on the second intermediate media content; and 
 responsive to determining that the second intermediate media content is not available, creating a second optimized media content for the first playback device by creating the second intermediate content using the second original media content and the second set of content generation operations, and performing the second set of transformation operations on the second intermediate media content; and 
 
       sending the second optimized media content to the second playback device. 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 9 , wherein the first set of content generation operations and the second set of content generation operations are the same, and the first set of transformation operations and the second set of transformation operations are different. 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 9 , wherein the first set of content generation operations and the second set of content generation operations are different, and the first set of transformation operations and the second set of transformation operations are different. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining whether a previously-generated first optimized media content is available for reuse, wherein the previously-generated first optimized media content was created using the first original media content, the first content generation operations, and the first transformation operations; 
 responsive to determining that the previously-generated first optimized media content is available, sending the previously-generated first optimized media content to the first playback device. 
 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining whether the host computer has sufficient processing resources to create the first optimized media content for the first playback device; 
 responsive to determining that the host computer does not have sufficient processing resources to create the first optimized media content, determining an alternate first set of content generation operations or an alternate first set of transformation operations; 
 creating an alternate first optimized media content using the alternate first set of content generation operations or the alternate first set of transformation operations. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of  claim 13 , wherein the first optimized media content is at a first level of quality and the alternate first optimized media content is at a second level of quality, wherein the first level of quality is higher than the second level of quality;
 wherein a level of quality of a media content is measured based on a compression format, a bit rate, and an image resolution of a media content sent to a playback device.